About Us

The Lima-Allen County Regional Planning Commission (LACRPC) was established in September 1964 and assumed the powers and duties of the Allen County Planning Commission which was created in 1954. The formation of the Regional Planning Commission was accomplished in conformance with Section 713.21 of the Ohio Revised Code and was charged with the responsibilities of comprehensive planning and program implementation within Allen County and its various communities.

Organizational Chart

Who We Are

The LACRPC is a voluntary association of delegates from different participating jurisdictions, including representatives of state and local governments as well as non-governmental organizations, interested in understanding and addressing the needs of the region. The Commission serves as a forum for discussion as well as sharing ideas and information among communities regarding local and regional issues. The LACRPC serves in an advisory capacity to community decision makers who rely on the data, analyses, and planning recommendations, which are provided by the Commission. A 35 member board of directors assists the Commission by reviewing and recommending plans and strategies to develop and improve the region. The Commission employs professional staff to provide assistance and advice in carrying out these responsibilities. The powers and duties of the Commission are explicitly detailed in Section 713.21 of the Ohio Revised Code.

The LACRPC provides a wide array of services to the region and undertakes special studies at the request of member communities. Typically services include:

Preparing population and housing reports;

Providing traffic and crash analyses;

Facilitating the subdivision review process for those unincorporated areas outside of municipal jurisdictions; and

Providing zoning, land use, soil, and other development related information.

The Commission also provides a host of other community services, including administering the Allen County Floodplain Management Regulations for the unincorporated areas of Allen County as well as the Community Development Block Grant for Allen County. In addition, the LACRPC serves as a repository for, and has a wide array of, historical data and archival maps such traffic flow, zoning, and land use maps as well as aerial photos. Should other services be of local interest, the LACRPC has the capability to provide a wide variety of other services to the general public.

The annual Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) developed by the LACRPC reflects the interests and concerns of the local membership and contains information specific to the cooperative, continuing, and comprehensive planning process undertaken by the LACRPC. Through the participation of local member political subdivisions, and with the assistance of state and federal agencies, the LACRPC determines planning priorities and policies for the region and directs the staff in its various planning activities. The UPWP outlines the staff activities over the course of the fiscal year as required under contract with various state and federal agencies. In addition, the document provides a management tool to assess LACRPC progress on specific projects, as well as its commitment to local issues.

As the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Lima Urbanized Area, the LACRPC is the agency responsible for developing and maintaining a comprehensive, coordinated, and continuing transportation planning process. This "3C" process has been adopted to ensure that the region's local transportation network continues to be developed cognizant of various land use patterns, and one in which the safe and efficient movement of goods and people is paramount. The agency's transportation planning activities are predicated on a predetermined committee structure, which includes the Transportation Coordinating Committee (TCC) and the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC). The TCC primarily includes local elected officials; while, the TAC includes both private and public sector transportation professionals and reports to TCC. Together these two committees review and provide technical assistance as well as make recommendations on transportation and transit-related projects and programs planned for the region.

The MPO must also involve the general public in the transportation planning process, not only documenting its public participation efforts, but providing an opportunity for public input into the policies and decisions that affect local transportation issues. In order to ensure input and community involvement, the agency utilizes the services of its Citizens Advisory Committee and other ad-hoc advising committees.

Metropolitan Planning Organization

Responsibilities:

Develop an integrated transportation plan for the region;

Guide informed decision making across a broad cross section of community representatives;

Review and approve the allocation of millions of dollars for improvements to the infrastructure of roadways and bridges;

Ensuring that local residents have the opportunity to utilize alternative modes of commuting; and

The Planning Commission will carry out all planning, programs and activities in such manner that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination with respect to such planning, programs or activities. The Planning Commission is an equal opportunity employer and promotes a continuing affirmative action program.